Archive for March, 2010
The British designer, Luella loves bows and so do we. They look great on anything and everything from dresses to jackets and shoes. If you really want to work this trend for work or smart occasions, then the bow tailored jacket is the perfect way to do so. The asymmetrical style has a bow on just one side almost as if it has been untied and left to hang loose. This gives the jacket an understated but very stylish looks. For a slightly more formal version, the higher neck of the bow collar jacket (pictured above right) has a collar that looks like a very neatly tied bow.
A tailored bow jacket looks particularly good for work with a plain coloured skirt or trousers. For a more elaborate look you can also combine it with a long patterned skirt or a dress. It should be worn with a really simple top without a collar. The collar of a blouse would only compete with the structure of the bow neckline of the jacket so a camisole or vest top will work best.  Again with necklaces a short simple style looks best.
Bows are a traditional and very feminine addition to an outfit. They can look very cute or more grown up and polished depending on your choice and colour of bow. By choosing a bow that is part of a piece of clothing and in the same colour, you get a understated look. If you are looking for something mush more obvious and eye catching look for bows in contrasting colours or add your own using a scarf or ribbon. Some ideas are to use a velvet ribbon around the waist of a simple dress or around the seam line of an empire line dress. You can also tie a scarf in a bow around your neck either loosely or with the bow sitting on your neck.
Think carefully about the size of bow on your outfit and where it is positioned. A bow around th neckline will draw attention to your face. Â A bow at waist height will draw attention to your waistline. A big bow may make a small waist look wider so tread carefully. Wearing a big bow is a style statement and you should think carefully about whether it suits you or whether you will be suited to one or more smaller more discrete bows. The tailored bow jacket is a very elegant way to wear the seasons bow jacket but if this look is not for you, there are plenty of other ways to wear bows.
The bow neck blouse – a classic style of blouse with a bow tied at the neck makes a really attractive work outfit. Wear this black blouse with black trousers for the ultimate in understated style.
Diamante applique bow – if you want to add a bow to your outfit without adding bulk an applique diamante bow is the perfect choice. Great for adding some sparkle to daytime outfits for a really on trend look.
Little bows – lots of little bows are a really cute way to wear this trend and a great option if you love bows but feel a little overpowered by one big bow.
Bow tie jacket – another elegant style of jacket with a bow. The bow tie fastening makes an interesting and very stylish addition to this jacket without being too obvious.
When attending a wedding of either family or friends, you will no doubt want to get a bit dressed up for the occasion and look your best. It can often be difficult to decide on the right outfit to wear. You want to be different and individual but not stick out like a sore thumb. You will want to look trendy and up to date but not a fashion victim. You will also want to wear something that is really comfortable as it may be a long day (in a good way!).
Here aresome  great ideas for elegant and stylish wedding outfits:
The maxi dress
A maxi dress is an incredibly feminine option for a wedding outfit. Look for a printed maxi dress with a bold pattern for a really eye catching look. Due to the formality of the occasion it would be wise to pick a maxi dress with a fairly structured bodice and wide straps. You can also wear it with a shrug or bolero if you would prefer not to show off your shoulders or it is a slightly cooler day. The beauty of the maxi dress is that it disguises all manner of sins including round tummy and larger hips and thighs. It is also a really comfortable style to wear and you will not need to spend all day trying to hold your stomach in. If you have chosen a printed maxi, keep accessories to a minimum so that they do not fight with the print. Heels are an essential and a clutch is the perfect finishing touch.
The printed jacket
If you are looking for an original and eye catching outfit, a printed jacket may be just the answer. It is perfect for slightly cooler weather or those who don’t want to expose their arms and shoulders. Team with a pencil skirt and heels for a smart outfit that will definitely make you stand out from the cloud. As with all bold prints accessories should again be minimal.
The floral dress
A floral dress is perfect for almost any summer occasion especially a wedding. It looks great for a hot day on its own and equally good on a cooler day with a tailored jacket. Neutral shoes and bag look great with this outfit or you could pick a bright coloured clutch to match the print if you want it to look even brighter.
The suit
A suit is a traditional and smart outfit, perfect for family members close to the bride and groom who want to look the part. Avoid dark colours which look like work wear instead opting for bright colours or pastel shades. You can choose the style of skirt and jacket that best suits your body shape then add a camisole or blouse in a contrasting colour. If you really want to dress up for the occasion you should also choose a contrasting hat. For a more up to date look try mixing and matching a suit jacket and skirt or dress in different colours.
Dressing in your fifties can seem like a boring task when the main options open to you are old fashioned and frumpy but there really is no reason why you can’t look as good if not better than you did in your thirties. Of course, you will probably not want to wear the same clothes in your fifties as you did in your thirties. You should adapt your style to ensure that your look is age appropriate and makes the most of your best features. Â
Looking good in your fifties is more about style than fashion but that doesn’t mean that you cannot follow fashions at all. You should always think carefully about each piece of clothing that you wear, does it really suit you and is it age appropriate? Look for ways to have fun with you clothes and show individuality and personality but try and stick to these key principles.
Great Fit - your clothes should always fit perfectly. Don’t worry about what the label says, the fit is more important. If you have to buy a size larger than you would like to get the best fit, you can always cut the label out. If you have a piece of clothing that you love but does not quite fit perfectly, it is well worth getting it altered for that perfect fit. Over baggy clothes will not do you any favours. Instead opt for clothes that skim but do not cling. Look for everyday skirts that are comfortable and hang perfectly.
Quality fabrics- in your fifties the quality of the fabrics that you wear will really matter. Not only are your friends likely to have a more discerning eye than perhaps they did in your twenties or thirties but the better quality fabrics will hang better and be much more flattering. Generally natural fabrics will work much better for you than synthetic. You will l find these much more comfortable to wear.
Attention to detail - it is those little things and the attention to detail that turn a good outfit into a great outfit. The turned up collar or slightly rolled up sleeves are those little touches that make an outfit look really stylish. Quality and well made clothes are also key, the seams should sit flat and clothes that have been carefully stitched and finished will look so much better.
Less is more - when it comes to accessorising, less is often more especially in your fifties. Accessories are a great way to add interest, colour, pattern and texture to your outfit but use them wisely. Just one feature accessory is enough, don’t over do it. Again look for quality over quantity for a really stylish look. Try investing in a really nice quality leather handbag in a neutral colour. This will instantly add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your outfit.
Covering up - As you get older, a general rule of thumb is that you should cover up more. Long sleeves will look better than sleeveless or vest tops and higher necked tops or blouses will be more flattering for you. Likewise with skirts, never, never wear a mini skirt. A below knee skirt would be the most age appropriate. If you want to show off a great figure, opt for a pencil skirt or some well cut womens trousers.
Classic pieces - whilst there is nothing wrong with trying new things, there is usually a very good reason why classic styles have been around for so long. Classic is a great style at any age but work particularly well in your fifties. Usually classic styles will be elegant, flattering and age appropriate. Â
Barely a season goes by when colour or another is tipped by journalists or the style experts as the new black. Often brown, beige, grey or navy. Black is such a staple in most peoples wardrobe that it seems inevitable that style gurus and writers will try and convince us that there is another alternative that is just as good. And they are probably right, there are some great alternatives to black that can be just as versatile even more so. For some the colour black can also be quite draining and make the complexion look pale and washed out. Other alternatives can make the skin look much brighter and fresher.
Navy is a great alternative to black that will continue to come back into fashion season after season. It has the same slimming effect as black but is slightly softer than black so much for flattering for the complexion. Navy always looks sophisticated and chic and looks great in military, nautical, tailored or casual styles.
A navy shirt dress is a really simple piece but exudes understated style. It needs very little added to it and is one of those outfits where sometimes less is more. If you do decide to add accessories navy goes with whole range of other colours including red, yellow, brown, white and pink. Simple shoes and a handbag in tan leather will also look great with a navy shirt dress.
A navy blazer can be added to this shirt dress for a monotone outfit that looks amazingly stylish and gives it an air of formality. For an elegant and cool outfit for a summer holiday, just try adding a wide brimmed straw hat. For a more wintry outfit add a long line belted cardigan, tights and some long boots.
The navy shirt dress is a real investment and wardrobe staple. It is perfect for wearing for work or causal occasions throughout the spring and summer. You can also dress it up with heels and a clutch for a party or special occasion. The panels and cut of the dress are flattering on most body shapes. For an athletic shape, this dress will look best buttoned right up to the top. For apple shapes and hourglass figures this dress will look best with th top few buttons undone. You could even try wearing with a vest or camisole underneath.
If wearing jewellery with this dress, keep it simple. Gold goes really well with navy blue so try wearing a simple gold pendant necklace or some hoop earrings. For a pop of colour a patterned scarf hung over the shoulders or tied around the neck will create a completely different look. Those with an hour glass shape can really make this dress work for them by adding a belt in either tan leather, gold or a bright colour.
So yes, for the spring and summer  navy could well be the new black. This navy shirt dress is flattering, versatile and very very chic. Also a great investment as the style and colour will always be in fashion.
As you move from your thirties to your forties, you probably won’t feel any different and there is no need to rush out and buy a whole new wardrobe of clothes (unless you want to). Much of the advice on how to dress in your forties is similar to how to dress in your thirties but you may want to adapt your style a little to make it completely age appropriate. This does not mean that you need to begin dressing in an old fashioned or frumpy way, far from it. The key to looking good in your forties, as at any age, is finding the right sort of clothes that really suit you. The sort of clothes that suit you may be slightly different in your forties than your thirties and certainly quite different from your twenties.
Your body is constantly changing through out your life and in your forties you may begin to notice a change in your body shape,skin tone and hair colour. All of these things will effect which clothes suit you and really flatter you and to look your best you may need to adapt your wardrobe slightly. In your forties the colours and style of clothes that suit you may have changed. Try re evaluating your wardrobe and working out if every thing you own really makes you look your best. Try out new styles and colours until you find your perfect formula.
It is not all bad news, they do say that forties are the new thirties but you need to keep in mind that no matter how good your figure, mini skirts and lycra dresses are just not going to look stylish on you. Now is the time to abandon fashion (if you ever followed fashion) in favour of style. Look for key pieces that really look great on you and then update your look each season with some lovely new accessories.
In your forties, you should ensure that you buy clothes from shops or online stores that cater for your age. The cuts of these clothes will be more flattering for you and you will avoid dressing too young. There are some clever stylist tricks that you can employ in your forties to help make your look really stunning. Wearing light colours like pastels, white, cream and beige near to your face will help to lift your complexion. The neck is usually one of the areas that particularly shows your age, try turning up a collar to divert attention away and up towards your face. Legs are often the slowest to age so draw attention to your legs (but not with a mini skirt) by wearing knee length everyday skirts and pretty shoes.
In your forties, you can still have lots of fun with your clothes try experimenting with patterns. Blouses and scarves are great ways of adding a bit of interest to an outfit. Try out different looks with tailored pieces that will look great on you. Over blouses also look very elegant. You can also try adding bold accessories and eye catching accessories to really make a statement.